Introduction

Style never goes out of fashion, so why not create stylish items to your home that creates a focal point of design and conversation.

Vintage or reclaimed pieces of furniture always steal the show and having small nods to the theme throughout your interiors is a great way to give the look a go, without going overboard.

You can take inspiration from all around you. We made our box cubby out of some apple creates from the local farmer’s market; they make a great addition to our wall and are a real talking point, too. A great look that doubles up as a storage and display unit combined – what’s not to love?

Step 1

Start by lining up the crates, side by side and on top of one another, so you can see how it will look once complete, and so you can adjust accordingly before screwing them all together. Ensure the crates are lined up correctly, but don’t worry too much if they’re not, a little slapdash and thrown-together completes the look.

When you’re happy with the crate’s positioning, mark with a pencil where the brackets and screws are going to go, then pop two of the crates to one side. (It’s easier to start with two and keep building it up, at this point the rest can be a bit in the way.)

Step 2

Now, make some pilot holes through your pencil guides.

Carefully insert the screws and use a drill to ensure they are firmly secure and attach the plate of the machine washers.

Next, add some plate zinc in a horizontal position, to the back and going across the fixed crates, for extra support.

Step 3

Next, decide the height you’d like your box cubby to go and make a mark on the wall, using a pencil. You don’t want your unit to be too high or too low. Screw your mirror hooks to the wall and attach your cubby; get someone to help lift this.

Old items are always more fragile than new as they’ve had a lot of wear and tear through the years, so be careful with how much weight you put on them – we’ve used some light display ornaments and frames. Books will be okay to go in here, just don’t go overboard.

Top tip

Put the cubby on a wall painted a contrasting colour. That way it stands out, showing all the intricate details of the crates.